Table 1 Participant’s characteristics and the level of clinical indicators

Sex (M/F), n (%)

24 (44)/30(56)

17 (34)/33 (66)

31 (57)/23(43)

Age [median (IQR), years]

37.50 (26.00–49.00)

45.50 (32.75–54.00)

45.50 (31.00–53.25)

BMI (mean ± SD, kg/m²)

22.54 ± 2.64

22.54 ± 2.99

23.30 ± 3.64

FeNO [median (IQR), ppb]

15.00 (12.25–20.75)

38.00 (23.50–60.00)*

67.00 (43.00–104.50*^#

Peripheral eosinophil count [median (IQR), 4 × 109/L]

0.09 (0.06–0.17)

0.29 (0.16–0.47)*

0.45 (0.24–0.60)*^#

Serum 14-3-3β [median (IQR), ng/mL]

24.99 (17.43–29.91)

25.88 (21.03–34.55)

41.18 (33.06–51.76*^#

FVC (mean ± SD, L)

3.37 ± 0.77

2.92 ± 0.65*

3.20 ± 0.96

FVC% pred (mean ± SD, %)

92.60 ± 11.28

93.59 ± 13.80

86.64 ± 17.24*^#

FEV1 (mean ± SD, L)

2.91 ± 0.69

2.16 ± 0.55*

2.23 ± 0.85*

FEV1% pred (mean ± SD, %)

94.04 ± 11.39

82.24 ± 17.55*

70.64 ± 19.70*^#

FEV1/FVC (mean ± SD, %)

86.26 ± 5.36

74.10 ± 10.86*

69.16 ± 13.50*